PRUDENCE ISLAND — Potters Cove was the place to be Saturday if you were looking for a party on the water.

It was also the place to be if you were a police officer looking for someone who had perhaps enjoyed the party a little too much.

Four people were arrested and 24 boating and safety citations were issued during a Portsmouth Police Department enforcement operation at Aquapalooza 2026, the annual boating event that draws large numbers of vessels to Potters Cove on Prudence Island.

Arrested were Robinson Alves, 23, of 877 Wood St., Fall River, and Justin O. Taymes, 39, of 242 Pearl St. 2, Providence, who were each charged with operating a watercraft while intoxicated, police said. Both were also cited for refusing to submit to a chemical test (first offense). 

Anthony J. Gabriel, 21, of 2937 Elm St., Dighton, Mass., was arrested on charges of disorderly conduct and obstructing an officer in execution of duty. 

Jake R. McCann, 33, of 4640 Post Road 3, East Greenwich, was charged with disorderly conduct (fighting/tumultuous behavior).

The arrests and citations came as police and other agencies conducted what Portsmouth police described as proactive enforcement throughout the event, with a particular focus on impaired operation, reckless boating and safety violations.

The operation involved Portsmouth police and officers from Warwick, Bristol and Providence, as well as the Rhode Island State Police, Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, U.S. Coast Guard and Portsmouth Fire Department.

In all, officers issued 24 citations for boating and safety violations in addition to the four arrests.